Faculty of Education - Research Publications
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ItemThe Intergenerational Transmission of At-Risk/Problem Gambling: The Moderating Role of Parenting Practices(WILEY, 2017-10)BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although parenting practices are articulated as underlying mechanisms or protective factors in several theoretical models, their role in the intergenerational transmission of gambling problems has received limited research attention. This study therefore examined the degree to which parenting practices (positive parenting, parental involvement, and inconsistent discipline) moderated the intergenerational transmission of paternal and maternal problem gambling. METHODS: Students aged 12-18 years (N = 612) recruited from 17 Australian secondary schools completed a survey measuring parental problem gambling, problem gambling severity, and parenting practices. RESULTS: Participants endorsing paternal problem gambling (23.3%) were 4.3 times more likely to be classified as at-risk/problem gamblers than their peers (5.4%). Participants endorsing maternal problem gambling (6.9%) were no more likely than their peers (4.0%) to be classified as at-risk/problem gamblers. Paternal problem gambling was a significant predictor of offspring at-risk/problem gambling after controlling for maternal problem gambling and participant demographic characteristics. The relationship between maternal problem gambling and offspring at-risk/problem gambling was buffered by parental involvement. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Paternal problem gambling may be important in the development of adolescent at-risk/problem gambling behaviours and higher levels of parental involvement buffers the influence of maternal problem gambling in the development of offspring gambling problems. Further research is therefore required to identify factors that attenuate the seemingly greater risk of transmission associated with paternal gambling problems. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Parental involvement is a potential candidate for prevention and intervention efforts designed to reduce the intergenerational transmission of gambling problems. (Am J Addict 2017;26:707-712).
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ItemAn Examination of Clinician Responses to Problem Gambling in Community Mental Health Services(MDPI, 2020-07)Gambling problems commonly co-occur with other mental health problems. However, screening for problem gambling (PG) rarely takes place within mental health treatment settings. The aim of the current study was to examine the way in which mental health clinicians respond to PG issues. Participants (n = 281) were recruited from a range of mental health services in Victoria, Australia. The majority of clinicians reported that at least some of their caseload was affected by gambling problems. Clinicians displayed moderate levels of knowledge about the reciprocal impact of gambling problems and mental health but had limited knowledge of screening tools to detect PG. Whilst 77% reported that they screened for PG, only 16% did so "often" or "always" and few expressed confidence in their ability to treat PG. However, only 12.5% reported receiving previous training in PG, and those that had, reported higher levels of knowledge about gambling in the context of mental illness, more positive attitudes about responding to gambling issues, and more confidence in detecting/screening for PG. In conclusion, the findings highlight the need to upskill mental health clinicians so they can better identify and manage PG and point towards opportunities for enhanced integrated working with gambling services.
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ItemBrief Report: Problem Gambling in International and Domestic University Students(WILEY, 2020-01)BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: International students comprise an ethnic minority subpopulation who may be at increased risk for the development of gambling problems. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial factors associated with gambling problems in international and domestic university students in Australia. METHODS: One hundred seventy-three (n = 173) university students (127 domestic, 45 international) completed measures of gambling participation, problem gambling, psychosocial factors (depression, anxiety, perceived social support, loneliness, gambling-related cognitive distortions) and English language difficulties. RESULTS: Gambling participation, but not problem gambling status, was lower in international than domestic students. Only anxiety and cognitive distortions were associated with problem gambling in domestic students; and only cognitive distortions were associated with problem gambling in international students. International student status failed to moderate the relationships between any psychosocial factor and problem gambling status. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Future research is required to elucidate problem gambling risk and protective factors in this ethnic minority subgroup, with a view to guide culturally sensitive initiatives. (Am J Addict 2019;00:00-00).
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ItemScreening for problem gambling within mental health services: a comparison of the classification accuracy of brief instruments(WILEY, 2018-06)BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite the over-representation of people with gambling problems in mental health populations, there is limited information available to guide the selection of brief screening instruments within mental health services. The primary aim was to compare the classification accuracy of nine brief problem gambling screening instruments (two to five items) with a reference standard among patients accessing mental health services. DESIGN: The classification accuracy of nine brief screening instruments was compared with multiple cut-off scores on a reference standard. SETTING: Eight mental health services in Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 837 patients were recruited consecutively between June 2015 and January 2016. MEASUREMENTS: The brief screening instruments were the Lie/Bet Questionnaire, Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS) (two- to five-item versions), NODS-CLiP, NODS-CLiP2, Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) and NODS-PERC. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was the reference standard. FINDINGS: The five-item BPGS was the only instrument displaying satisfactory classification accuracy in detecting any level of gambling problem (low-risk, moderate-risk or problem gambling) (sensitivity = 0.803, specificity = 0.982, diagnostic efficiency = 0.943). Several shorter instruments adequately detected both problem and moderate-risk, but not low-risk, gambling: two three-item instruments (NODS-CLiP, three-item BPGS) and two four-item instruments (NODS-PERC, four-item BPGS) (sensitivity = 0.854-0.966, specificity = 0.901-0.954, diagnostic efficiency = 0.908-0.941). The four-item instruments, however, did not provide any considerable advantage over the three-item instruments. Similarly, the very brief (two-item) instruments (Lie/Bet and two-item BPGS) adequately detected problem gambling (sensitivity = 0.811-0.868, specificity = 0.938-0.943, diagnostic efficiency = 0.933-0.934), but not moderate-risk or low-risk gambling. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal brief screening instrument for mental health services wanting to screen for any level of gambling problem is the five-item Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS). Services wanting to employ a shorter instrument or to screen only for more severe gambling problems (moderate-risk/problem gambling) can employ the NODS-CLiP or the three-item BPGS. Services that are only able to accommodate a very brief instrument can employ the Lie/Bet Questionnaire or the two-item BPGS.
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ItemGambling Participation and Problem Gambling Severity in a Stratified Random Survey: Findings from the Second Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania(SPRINGER, 2015-12)Demographic characteristics associated with gambling participation and problem gambling severity were investigated in a stratified random survey in Tasmania, Australia. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted in March 2011 resulting in a representative sample of 4,303 Tasmanian residents aged 18 years or older. Overall, 64.8% of Tasmanian adults reported participating in some form of gambling in the previous 12 months. The most common forms of gambling were lotteries (46.5%), keno (24.3%), instant scratch tickets (24.3%), and electronic gaming machines (20.5%). Gambling severity rates were estimated at non-gambling (34.8%), non-problem gambling (57.4%), low risk gambling (5.3%), moderate risk (1.8%), and problem gambling (.7%). Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher annual participation rates were reported by couples with no children, those in full time paid employment, and people who did not complete secondary school. Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher gambling frequencies were reported by males, people aged 65 or older, and people who were on pensions or were unable to work. Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher gambling expenditure was reported by males. The highest average expenditure was for horse and greyhound racing ($AUD 1,556), double the next highest gambling activity electronic gaming machines ($AUD 767). Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole problem gamblers were significantly younger, in paid employment, reported lower incomes, and were born in Australia. Although gambling participation rates appear to be falling, problem gambling severity rates remain stable. These changes appear to reflect a maturing gambling market and the need for population specific harm minimisation strategies.
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ItemImproving Gambling Survey Research Using Dual-Frame Sampling of Landline and Mobile Phone Numbers(SPRINGER, 2014-06)Gambling prevalence studies are typically conducted within a single (landline) telephone sampling frame. This practice continues, despite emerging evidence that significant differences exist between landline and mobile (cell) phone only households. This study utilised a dual-frame (landline and mobile) telephone sampling methodology to cast light on the extent of differences across groups of respondents in respect to demographic, health, and gambling characteristics. A total of 2,014 participants from across Australian states and territories ranging in age from 18 to 96 years participated. Interviews were conducted using computer assisted telephone interviewing technology where 1,012 respondents from the landline sampling frame and 1,002 from the mobile phone sampling frame completed a questionnaire about gambling and other health behaviours. Responses across the landline sampling frame, the mobile phone sampling frame, and the subset of the mobile phone sampling frame that possessed a mobile phone only (MPO) were contrasted. The findings revealed that although respondents in the landline sample (62.7 %) did not significantly differ from respondents in the mobile phone sample (59.2 %) in gambling participation in the previous 12 months, they were significantly more likely to have gambled in the previous 12 months than the MPO sample (56.4 %). There were no significant differences in internet gambling participation over the previous 12 months in the landline sample (4.7 %), mobile phone sample (4.7 %) and the MPO sample (5.0 %). However, endorsement of lifetime problem gambling on the NODS-CLiP was significantly higher within the mobile sample (10.7 %) and the MPO sample (14.8 %) than the landline sample (6.6 %). Our research supports previous findings that reliance on a traditional landline telephone sampling approach effectively excludes distinct subgroups of the population from being represented in research findings. Consequently, we suggest that research best practice necessitates the use of a dual-frame sampling methodology. Despite inherent logistical and cost issues, this approach needs to become the norm in gambling survey research.
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ItemMindfulness and Problem Gambling: A Review of the Literature(SPRINGER, 2012-12)This article reviews the literature with respect to mindfulness and its potential for reducing the severity of problem gambling behaviour. Interest in the role of mindfulness as a treatment for problem gambling has gained the attention of researchers across Australia, the United States, and Canada. However, the literature is limited and current studies have severe methodological limitations. Despite this issue, investigations have revealed that dispositional mindfulness is related to less severe problem gambling outcomes and that psychological distress, overconfidence and risk willingness, myopic focus on reward and ego involvement may act as mediators in this relationship. Moreover, the literature indicates that the inverse relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress may be mediated by factors such as values clarification; emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility; non-attachment; emotion dysregulation/distress intolerance; thought suppression; and rumination. This article discusses the theoretical and clinical implications of these relationships with respect to mindfulness-based interventions for problem gambling. It is recommended that the approach be considered with cautious optimism.
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ItemProblem gambling and family violence: Findings from a population-representative study(AKADEMIAI KIADO ZRT, 2018-09)BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few studies have investigated the association between problem gambling (PG) and violence extending into the family beyond intimate partners. This study aimed to explore the association between PG and family violence (FV) in a population-representative sample. It was hypothesized that: (a) PG would be positively associated with FV, even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and comorbidities and (b) these relationships would be significantly exacerbated by substance use and psychological distress. A secondary aim was to explore whether gender moderated these relationships. METHODS: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with a population-representative sample of 4,153 Australian adults. RESULTS: Moderate-risk (MR)/problem gamblers had a 2.73-fold increase in the odds of experiencing FV victimization (21.3%; 95% CI: 13.1-29.4) relative to non-problem gamblers (9.4%; 95% CI: 8.5-10.4). They also had a 2.56-fold increase in the odds of experiencing FV perpetration (19.7%; 95% CI: 11.8-27.7) relative to non-problem gamblers (9.0%; 95% CI: 8.0-10.0). Low-risk gamblers also had over a twofold increase in the odds of experiencing FV victimization (20.0%; 95% CI: 14.0-26.0) and perpetration (19.3%; 95% CI: 13.5-25.1). These relationships remained robust for low-risk gamblers, but were attenuated for MR/problem gamblers, after adjustment for substance use and psychological distress. MR/problem gamblers had a greater probability of FV victimization, if they reported hazardous alcohol use; and low-risk gamblers had a greater probability of FV perpetration if they were female. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings provide further support for routine screening, highlight the need for prevention and intervention programs, and suggest that reducing alcohol use may be important in these efforts.